Contract Heifer Raising AJ. “JUD” HEINRICHS PSU Dairy Extension UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Col.) There is a growing demand and market for contract heifer-raising in the United State with recent estimates that demand is growing in the Northeast. The U.S. Department of Agri culture’s (USDA) Dairy Heifer Evaluation Project performed recently showed that on a national basis, 1.7 percent of the dairy far mers have someone else raise their heifers. In the Northeast the average is higher, at 2.4 percent Many situations make contract ing attractive, such as when facili ties, labor, or capital become lim ited. Or when it is feasible to use to free up time for other endeavors. Contract-raising of replacement heifers has a number of advantages and disadvantages for the both parlies the person needing replacements, and the person will ing to raise them. Advantages for the dairy farmer include possibly allowing a milk ing herd expansion by up to 25 per cent or more by freeing space in existing facilities; more time to spend working with milking cows; more time working with cropping or raising a specialty crop; fewer ration calculations; and fewer ani mals to check for heats. The advantages to a grower include specializing even to a degree such as focusing on baby calves, older heifers, etc. without having to milk cows. Also a fanner without good facilities for Grade A milk produc uon may find the facilities suitable for raising heifers, and thus make ( (Uoii o°ur NEW CONVENIENT DRIVE-THRU LOCATION Available at your Give your dog one to grow on feed local Buckeye Feed him Buckeye All-American Puppy Food (iUjmpr7 Dealer or Buck «V« Super Bits Dog Food some use out of them. This farmer should be sure to check buildings for ventilation, water supply and holding facilities. It also provides an opportuity for part-time employment, which may be attractive to someone semi-retired, working off of the farm, and for those who enjoy rais ing cattle, but not milking. Raising contract heifers also carries the benefit of allowing the use of home-grown grain and forages. The disadvantages to the dairy farmer is the increased risk of introducing a disease into his milk ing herd; the. possibility of a shor tage of replacement heifers if the contract-raiser does a poor job; and the replacements could end up costing more if the time, labor, feed and facilities freed by going with contract-raising is not utilized for increased profit to the dairy (Continued from Page A 10) Supply and Demand does call the market price. If we get into Supply manage ment it can become a nasty thing. If we push it to the extent that the Southern States have pushed the supply management of tobacco (130% of one years total selling price) it will cost in excess of $3,000.00 per 20,000 lb. cow for a young man to get into the dairy business. The Canadian price is up to Double and triple that price. Of course the person who docs the getting, gets quite a windfall. $600,000.00 or in the Canadian MONDAY, APRIL 19 THRU SATURDAY, MAY 1 ... quality higl more mature dogs Farm Forum 19” COLOR TV GIVEAWAY > Dog ID Tags • Many Other Door Prizes Rubbermaid FLAT BACK * BUCKETS 4.““ 20 Qts. - Reg. 9.99 Red, Blue, Green & Black Rubbermaid BRUTE STOCK TANKS food for In Demand operation. Contracts must be fair to both parties, and there are many possibilities. One contract may contain an oplion-to-purchase, in which the owner sells the calf, but reserves the right to purchase it back as a spring heifer at market price. Furthermore, contracts could be limited to a year-to-year basis to provide flexibility in establishing fees and costs that parallel the gen eral farm economy, and to permit for the deletion of animals as con ditions dictate. The contract should also include an option for second and third years: provide provisions for ter minating the contract, and a method of arbitration to settle disputes. case close to $2,000,000.00 for a 200 cow herd. I have not yet seen any two-tier program that is any better. For as much as it promotes the price that the incumbent farmer receives, so much it promotes the penalties a new-comer has to pay. Plus, you get the added expense of more government and more red tape. I lately saw a bumper sticker on a luxury camper. We are spending our childrens inheritance. Will we sell their freedom 100. 64.99 SO Gal. 100 Gal. $79.99 300 Gal. $149.90 ||toltzfus [Hi FEED AND SUPPLY, INC. 717-442-8280 717-392-0474 Feed and Supplies for Dogs, Cats, Horses, Birds & Small Animals 1 MILE SOUTH OF ROUTE 30 ON ROUTE 41, P O. BOX 427, GAP, PA 17527 HOURS: MON, WED , THURS. BAM - 530 PM, TUES & FR] 8 AM - 7 PM. SATURDAY 8 AM - 4PM 45th annual A-Day, Delaware Val ley College, Doylestown, 9 a.m.-S p.m.. thru April 25. Wissahickon Day Parade, Fair Dclmarva Poultry Booster ban quet, Wicomico Youth and Civ ic Center, Salisbury, Md. Ephrata Area Young Farmers Ladies Night Program, Cloister Restaurant, 6:30 p.m. York Co. Beekeepers meeting, extension office. 7 p.m. Berks Co. 4-H Supper Series, 6 p.m.-8;30 p.m. Home Horticultural Seminar: Perennials, The Gardening Sol ution, Lancaster Farm and fJom^entw^^jn^S^jn. Stale College Lion Country Pony Club Ride-A-Thon, Grange l*airgrounds^^^^^^^^^ Home Horticulture Seminar, Espa liers: The Mystery Explained, Henry Leid East Earl FRIDAY & SATURDAY APRIL 23 & 24 4 ”GQSD SUB & DRINK 75<r Served By The Gap and New Holland Subway’s Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, April 17, 1993-A3l Farm Calendar I (Conllnuod from Pag* A 10) TRUCKLOAD SALE! On Quality Buckeye Feeds TWIN OAKS SHREDDED HARDWOOD MULCH 3Cu. Ft. $2.99 COMPLETE LINE OF • ORTHO • DRAGON • HOLLY TONE t /lifiir PEAT MOSS Sg*h $6.95 4 Cu. Ft. Bag Farm and Home Center, Lan- Hereford Breed Sale, Dairy Pavi lion, New York Slate Fairgrounds. Western Pa. Sheep and Club Lamb Sale, Mercer Co. 4-H Park, Wednesday, May 12 Atlantic Dairy Co-op 36th Eastern Member Relations Conference, Hershey Lodge and Convention Home Horticulture Seminar, Figs, Asian Persimmons, Dwarf Cit rus, Kiwi and Other Unusual Edibles, Farm and Home Cen ter, Lancaster, 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Ag Issues Forum, Kreider’s Restaurant, Manheim, 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. oo ■■■■ fir.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers